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Toxicity and violence in video games

Tirza Scheffer: Blog 6

Toxicity and violence in video games

My brother used to spend a lot of time playing computer games like FIFA, GTA 5 and Call of Duty. I would sit in my room and listen to what he was thinking. Most of the time, these weren't friendly conversations, but rather aggressive interactions filled with shouting, blaming, and swearing. At the time, I didn't think much of it; I just found him loud and annoying.

I read an article on Medium recently. It was called "Toxicity in Gaming Communities: Addressing the Dark Side of Online Gaming" by WOTA (2023). It talks about how a lot of online gaming environments, especially competitive ones, have people using bad language, saying horrible things, being sexist, racist and harassing others. The article explains how being able to stay anonymous and not having to face people in real life can make it easier for people to be aggressive and not have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

One part of the article really stood out to me: "If toxic behaviour is seen as normal in gaming spaces, people might not realise how harmful it is."

In other words, when this type of behaviour becomes normal, players may start to think it's okay, not just in games but also in other areas of life. This is especially worrying for younger players who are still learning how to interact socially. This can lead to younger players acting like this at school and becoming bullies, without realising that this is wrong.

Even more worryingly, people often ignore how harmful this behaviour can be. A lot of people say things like, "It's just part of gaming" or "Don't take it seriously".What's even more troubling is that people often dismiss this toxicity. A lot of people say things like, "It's just part of gaming" or "Don't take it seriously". This attitude makes it even harder to deal with the problem. The article says that game developers and platforms need to improve their moderation systems, make reporting easier, and encourage better interactions.

I also found a YouTube video of Gooba and Jetpack (2022) when I was looking into this more. The YouTuber says that the way many games are designed, the fact that they are competitive, and the stress and "us vs them" feelings they can cause, can make players feel frustrated and aggressive. It also shows that bad behaviour can spread quickly. If one person starts misbehaving, it's likely that others will do the same.

Looking back, I saw some of these things happen with my brother too. There were times when he would leave his room feeling frustrated, not because he lost the game, but because of how people treated each other. We shouldn't ignore that.

I think that bad behaviour in gaming should be treated as a form of cyberbullying. The fact that it takes place in a virtual world doesn't mean it doesn't have real-life consequences. Players can feel worried, unsafe or even stop doing something they once enjoyed. Gaming is fun, but only if you play with the right people and treat everyone with respect.



References:

Gooba and Jetpack. (2022, 13 januari). The gaming community is toxic [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQMyrCcaPWI


Worl   World the Abyss. (2023, 7 juni). Toxicity in Gaming Communities: Addressing the Dark Side of           Online Gaming. Medium. https://medium.com/@wota_mmorpg/toxicity-in-gaming-   communities-addressing-the-dark-side-of-online-gaming-723268aa29d

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Comments

  1. Diana Armeana NicolaescuMay 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM

    Thank your for sharing this, it really made me reflect on the topic too. I totally agree that toxicity in gaming gets excused way too often with excuses like “it is just part of the game". When in reality it can have serious emotional effects, especially on younger kids. What really stood out to me from what you wrote is the idea that toxic behavior in games can influence how someone acts in real life. I think we sometimes forget that these online environments are still social spaces and the way people treat each other there matters, just like in school.
    I also liked how you pointed out that gaming can still be fun and meaningful, but only when people feel safe and supported. That is such an important message.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM

    Hi! My brother games often too and i really recognize the loud and annoying part too haha, but luckily he mostly plays with his friends. But when he was younger I noticed too that it would make him more aggressive from time to time. I agree with you, we really should pay attention to adressing this problem instead of dismissing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Charlotte SiffertMay 22, 2025 at 5:58 AM

      Whoops, didn't see that I was commenting anonymously!

      Delete
  3. EldouneMay 25, 2025 at 3:42 AM

    I love reading this, I agree with you that we should not ignore the consequences of playing this kind of games.

    ReplyDelete
  4. RoosMay 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM

    Thanks for posting your blog! I agree that the toxicity that is expressed in video games is a much bigger problem than people think. It is not "just a game so it is ok". It is unacceptable that people treat each other like this because of a simple game. From my own experience I can tell that the "gaming world" is very toxic and especially towards women. It is good that you speak up about this and spread awareness. I agree that the toxicity can be a form of cyberbullying and that this should be looked at more.

    ReplyDelete

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